Community partners launch life jacket loaner program

Community partners are launching three additional life jacket loaner boards, this time at area state parks. The newest life jacket stations are in Devils Fork State Park on Lake Jocassee and Lake Hartwell State Park, where a limited number of life jackets in a variety of sizes are now available for temporary use during the day while swimming or boating. Visitors to the parks can check out a life jacket to use on the lake at no charge. Life jackets will be stored at kiosks along with information about safe boating. Boaters and swimmers are asked to return the jackets to the kiosk for others to use. The new stations bring to eight the number of life jacket loaner boards in Oconee County. The Keese family is the impetus behind the boards. Oakway native Craig Keese lost his son Brian and grandson Nathan in a drowning accident during a storm on Stockton Lake in Missouri on March 27, 2010.  Since that time, Mr. Keese and his family started an organization to promote boating and water safety, particularly on area lakes. The Upstate is home to many lakes and rivers, making such a program particularly important and especially during this year’s Labor Day weekend. According to the CDC, about 10 people die a day from unintentional drowning.  Of these, approximately two are younger than 14 years. Safe Kids Upstate is a childhood injury-prevention program. The program expanded its outreach to Pickens and Oconee Counties ten years ago with a coalition of community partners to help lead safety demonstrations and activities and disseminate educational materials and safety equipment, reaching thousands of children and their families.